Hawaii On A Nonstop Building Boom To Meet Its Growing Tourism

Industry

November 24, 1985|By Robert W. Bone.

HONOLULU — For the last three years Hawaii has grown in size and weight as two active volcanoes pumped millions of tons of lava from the Earth`s core to the surface, where it has spread and cooled. It is a performance that repeats processes present at the birth of the archipelago about 25 million years ago. Hardly less dramatic is the growth of human construction in recent years. Just when tourist facilities seem to have arrived at the saturation point, new resorts have erupted onto the scene, announced larger pools and higher rates, then rapidly filled up with vacationers. Older hotels also have sprouted new wings and added other attractions with lively abandon.

Here is an island-by-island picture of some of Hawaii`s top resort hotels for the winter of 1985-86:

OAHU

Here on the ``capital island,`` the home of Honolulu and 90 percent of the state`s population, the action-packed sandy suburb of Waikiki has been trying to regain its reputation as the center of fun. The foremost resort in Waikiki is the reconstructed Halekulani Hotel. The intelligently designed high-rise seems to surround and pay homage to the modest 1931-model house that started it all.

Rates in the Halekulani`s large, creamy white rooms run from around $155 to $275 a day for two; suites are higher. A restaurant on the top floor of the remodeled original structure has become almost the most respected, and the most expensive, in the state.

Other top hotels smack on Waikiki Beach include the massive Hilton Hawaiian Village with more than 2,600 rooms spread over its vast campus. The Sheraton organization manages four beach hotels, of which the best are the recently refurbished Sheraton Waikiki and the venerable old Royal Hawaiian, a dignified survivor from 1927 still on a perfect section of sand. Rates for the best doubles in these hotels are in the $100-$125 range, although the Hilton still has a few modest ``standards`` for $80 or so.

Just across the street from the beach, the most flamboyant of the Kalakaua Avenue addresses is the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. Rates are comparable to the best shoreline houses, except in its tiff-tiff Regency Club, where the twin tab runs about $160 to $185 for two. Again, the suites are still higher. Probably the best Oahu hotel is not in Waikiki. The prestigious Kahala Hilton Hotel, which turns a mature 21 this year, is on its own sandy beach in the residential suburb of Kahala. (Some confusion results since ``the Kahala,`` as it is known, is operated by the Hilton International Co., which has no relationship with the Hilton Hotels Corp. chain that administers the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki.)

Long the choice of presidents, kings, and rulers of the silver screen, the Kahala is completing a massive renovation. Double rates begin at $145 and move up, up and away.

KAUAI

Hawaii`s newest major hotel, the 300-room Sheraton Princeville, has just opened at the 10-year-old Princeville resort and golf village on the north shore of the Garden Island, certainly one of the state`s most scenic sites.

Sheraton`s first attempt at a real world-class Hawaiian hotel, and the only place to stay in Princeville except for a few condo operations, will set you back a daily minimum of $120, but most rooms are in the $150 to $175 range.

Real beach lovers, swimmers and snorkelers may prefer to headquarter themselves at Poipu, on the sandy south shore. Three resorts there are outstanding, including the recently expanded Sheraton Kauai, the Waiohai Hotel, and the Kiahuna Plantation. Double rates at all three will be generally in the $100 to $125 range.

MAUI

As a practical matter, there are two main resort areas on the island, plus a couple of far-out exceptions for splendid isolationists.

Most Maui visitors stay at Kaanapali, a complex of a half-dozen caravansaries sandwiched between a good golf course and a high, wide and handsome beach just three miles north of the old whaling capital of Lahaina. The unofficial King of Kaanapali for the last few years has remained the Hyatt Regency Maui with its multi-millions in art work, a dozen unflappable flamingos and a meandering one-acre swimming pool.

Other good choices at Kaanapali include the Maui Marriot and perhaps the Sheraton Maui. Daily doubles at most Kaanapali hotels will run $100 to $125;

the Hyatt, however, asks at least $135 for two, except in its Regency Club where those hotel-within-a-hotel rates are all above $200.

The other area is the newer, smaller, and less hectic Wailea Resort, sculpted alongside a series of modestly sized but atmospheric beaches in East Maui. There are just two genuine hotels--the well-run Maui Inter-Continental Wailea and the smaller but colorful Stouffer`s Wailea Beach. Rates run from around $100 to $175 at either.